Villain Retirement

"A device?"

"Yes."

"And what is it saying to you, Tedi?"

"I don't know."

Tedi let out another sigh coming from her original colossal body, seeping into the library even from far away as it vibrated through the air,

"All I know is that this is supposed to be from a very long time ago, but it feels like it was only created less than a century ago. That is why it is convenient for us to meet here, Riley," Tedi then turned to look at Ahor Zai's avatar,

"Perhaps Ahor Zai, the most powerful AI in the Known Universe, could help me talk to it."

[Most powerful? Psha,] Ahor Zai's avatar started changing shapes, almost returning to its goo-like state as its body started flickering. But after a few seconds, it once again calmed down; its eyes, looking straight into Tedi's eyes—but not her miniature version that she created, but at the original one outside the library,

[Thank you for the rare compliment, Former Elder Tedi. But no, I will not help you. Do you know how many civilizations have fallen because they let their AI dabble on a mysterious artifact? Thousands.]

"Well, I knew there was little to no chance that you will actually help," Tedi didn't seem to mind, however, as she just adjusted her glasses that didn't seem to have any purpose, "Meeting Riley is still my main objective for coming here. So, do you feel anything at all from it, Riley Ross?"

"Hm… no," Riley once again focused his eyes on the plaque. But no matter how many times he did so, it just… looked like an iron slab,

"Perhaps the P'lopi and their civilization still thrive to this day, Tedi. As you said so yourself, the Unknown is almost infinitely bigger than the Known Universe. They could still exist, and have already advanced to the point where they are no longer slaves of time."

"No," Tedi shook her head, "That is impossible. My kind would have detected them if that was so, even from a million light years away."

[That is not entirely true, Former Elder Tedi,] Ahor Zai's avatar flew in front of Tedi, shaking its head and wagging its tiny finger,

[The new Elder, Elder Olseyir, comes from a civilization that has technology that can not be detected. Even now, as she proceeds to present to the other Elders what she is capable of, I can not detect any form of autonomy or device.]

"...There's a new Elder?" Tedi squinted her eyes, "Where did someone like—"

"Let us focus on this mysterious object, Tedi."

And before Tedi could finish her words, Riley's clone grabbed the plaque from her hands. Riley then stood in front of his clone, before pointing his finger at the plaque.

"Perhaps if we try to destroy it, it will react."

"Are you insane!?" Tedi quickly got in between Riley and his clone, "This is a discovery that could very well unlock the secrets of the Universe for us."

[Or it could also destroy everything we know of, Former Elder Tedi,] Ahor Zai flew and landed on the shoulder of Riley's clone, [Riley Ross has already told me about this entity called Nothing. I believe that I have information about it, but it was included in the parts that were erased—perhaps it is best left unknown.]

"..." Tedi's eyebrows started to furrow.

[Nothing, as Riley Ross described it, is a being that existed before the Universe itself. Even I am not capable of computing that information. What does it mean to exist before the Universe itself?]

"Exactly," Tedi looked at Ahor Zai as she once again adjusted her glasses, "Don't you want to know? Your entire existence is to record everything, Ahor Zai. Do you not want to know what is before the Beginning?"

[My existence is to receive knowledge, Former Elder Tedi, not to actively and aggressively seek it like the Norinalds.]

"Riley," Tedi turned to look at Riley again, "You are at the very center of this, everything leads back to you. Don't you want to know about what you truly are?"

"I know what I am, Tedi."

"You don't," Tedi shook her head, "You are the only thing in this Universe that has talked to a being beyond time and existence itself…

…you might be a god, Riley Ross."

"No," Riley shook his head, "I am not the only one that has talked to Nothing. I know two more who have."

"...What?" Tedi's eyes widened in shock as she looked Riley in the eyes, "...Who?"

"That is not my secret to tell, Tedi," Riley shook his head.

"...That's fair," Tedi could really only sigh as she backed away, "Anyway, that is all the information I have. My people are currently searching for more plaques, the chances that there are more out there exists."

[You seem to be busy now that you have left the Common Council, Former Elder Tedi,] Ahor Zai's avatar said as it flew in the air again, [The last time I saw you, you were trying to divert the Cherbi's path…

…and also trying to apprehend Riley Ross.]

"My priorities have changed," Tedi shook her head, "I no longer want to apprehend Riley Ross, but protect his existence at all costs."

"I thought you were a peaceful race, Tedi," Riley blinked a couple of times as he tilted his head to the side, "Shouldn't someone like you, who save entire stellar systems from the Cherbi, loathe someone like me, who has killed entire planets?"

"We are a peaceful race, but we do not actively advocate peace. Civilizations rise and fall, Riley," Tedi once again shook her head, "I save what I can, what I can. But there is only one of you. Even if you eradicate 90% of the life in the Universe, the level of your existence and your importance will still outweigh your crimes."

"Hm." And finally, after several long conversations with Tedi, he saw a glimpse of what the Norinlads are at their core. They are beings of logic, and once they stop pretending to have emotions, their coldness could wash away an entire sun,

"Well, I wish you all the success in your search for answers, Tedi," Riley then nodded as he gestured to his clone to return the plaque to Tedi.

"...What?" Tedi, however, did not immediately take the plaque as she looked at Riley, "Are you not going to help me? As I said, you are at the center of this, Riley. This is about you."

"It has always been about me," Riley shrugged, "I am the Final Boss of this story, Tedi. And right now, my priority is helping the woman that would one day very well defeat me."

"If I help you expedite the process of helping Princess Aerith. Will you help me in searching for answers, Riley Ross?" Tedi then said as she adjusted her glasses, "You are trying to help Princess Aerith in literally making a new world for the Themarians where they can be free, correct?"

"I suppose."

"I can help you make that possible, the Norinlads will help you."

"Hm…" Riley placed his hand on his chin, before nodding his head and smiling.

"Aerith would like that, Tedi. Let us hurry, then…" Riley then said as he grabbed the plaque from his clone, "...I want to tell Aerith that I garnered the help of the Norinlads."

"This is good, Riley Ross. We will—"

And before Tedi could retrieve the plaque from Riley's hand, the plaque instantly vanished…

…along with Riley.

"Oh…" Tedi, Ahor Zai's avatar, and Riley's clone all turned to look at each other in shock,

"...This is not good."